Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)

(Federal Funding)

The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) is more commonly known as the Surface Transportation Program (STP), which continues to be the most flexible of all the highway programs and provides the most financial support to local agencies. Projects eligible for STP funding include highway and bridge construction and repair; transit capital projects; bicycle, pedestrian and recreational trails; and construction of ferry boats and terminals.

WSDOT allocates STP funds to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) and County Lead Agencies for prioritizing and selecting projects that align with their regional priorities involving all entities eligible to participate in a public process. In addition, WSDOT sets delivery targets for each MPO and county lead agency.

Federal Transportation Acts from 1991 – 2012 distributed STP funds for areas: Over 200,000 population; Under 200,000 population; 1991 rural federal aid secondary (FAS) system; and STP Flexible (any area) funds. In 2013, the federal transportation act modified the STP program by changing the population distribution to align with 2010 census data: Over 200,000 population; Under 200,000 – Over 5,000 population; Under 5,000 population; and STP Flexible (any area) funds. Due to these allocation changes, coordination with representatives from MPOs and counties modified the distribution that focused on minimizing the financial impacts statewide.

In 2017, Local Programs, MPOs and counties developed a formula driven allocation for the STBG funds. The STBG funds are distributed as follows:

Over 200,000 population – Distributed based on 2010 Census data as required

Under 200,000 – 5,000 population – Distributed based on 2010 Census data for these population areas.

Under 5,000 population – Distributed based on rural lane miles.

Flexible –

Distributed based on 75% population/25% total county lane miles

Local Programs administration costs will be decreased from the initial allocations based on a proportional share of the total allocation for each entity.